‘India will continue to support Africa’

In her address at the inaugural session of the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership being held in New Delhi, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Ms Preneet Kaur, said the Asian giant will continue to play a catalytic role in Africa’s capacity building initiatives.

“India will continue supporting Africa’s socio-economic, technological and human resources development as well as partner African governments in a consultative, participative and responsive manner based on Africa’s own assessment of their needs,” she said.

Ms Kaur noted the high level of African participation at the conclave saying it was a clear recognition of the huge potential of India-Africa economic and business ties.
“Seven heads of state, 42 senior trade and commerce ministers and nearly 900 officials as well as business delegates from Africa are taking part in the conclave deliberations, and 475 projects worth about US$85 billion are being discussed here,” she said.

Cote d’Ivoire Prime Minister Mr Daniel Kablan Duncan, who also addressed the summit, said roads and railroad development, mining, agro-processing, energy, irrigation, healthcare and ICT were the most promising areas of co-operation between India and Africa.

Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshmen Ncube, who was accompanied by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to India, Mr Jonathan Wutawunashe, also attended one of the sessions on pumps and systems for irrigation, water supply and sewage.

The session focused on food security in both India and Africa and explored how the two can harness natural resources of land and water to usher a green revolution.
Mr Vijay Varama, a representative of Kirloskar Brothers Limited a company that provides cost-effective water pumps and pumping accessories, outlined how African countries can benefit from their cheaper water pumping technology.

He said the Indian firm, which is currently operating in South Africa, Senegal, Egypt and as far as Latin America, has                              implemented successful projects such as one of the largest water supply schemes in India — the Krishina Water Supply Scheme for Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

“This scheme involves six high head horizontal split case pumps with 2 000-horsepower motors, electro-mechenical equipment and 132kV, 15MVA substations and was completed within nine months,” he    said.

He also said the company has also managed to develop a state-of-the-art solar pumping water system which can be very effective in Africa.
Minister Ncube is being accompanied by offficials from Zesa Holdings, Ministry of Energy, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce.
Minister Ncube is also expected to address a session on India-East and Southern African Partnership.

The 9th edition of India-Africa Project Partnership conclave opened on Sunday at the Taj Mahal Palace.
The three-day summit will also explore how Africa can achieve food sufficiency and make it a global food basket, have effective and affordable healthcare and housing, water, infrastructure and power among other issues.